Trigger Warning: Antisemitism, Racism, Discussion of Kanye West’s antisemitic and racist statements
By Claire Leibowitz, Lifestyle EIC
“I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE,” Kanye West tweeted, following the statement with the claim that he can’t be antisemitic because “black people are actually Jew also.”
Slavery was a “choice,” West said in an interview with Charlamagne Tha God, a radio host. “When you hear about slavery for 400 years… For 400 years? That sounds like a choice,” he said, according to CNN.
Derek Chauvin’s “knee wasn’t even on his neck like that,” West said in a podcast episode with Drink Champs, according to the LA Times. He proceeded to say that George Floyd’s death was related to fentanyl use.
West wore a “White Lives Matter” shirt to a Paris Fashion Week event alongside Candace Owens, according to The New York Times.
Image via CBS
Wanting to name an album after Hitler, West had an “obsession” with the man responsible for the Holocaust, according to Forbes.
The rapper and fashion designer’s Instagram followers outnumber the world population of Jewish people – 18.4 million to 14.7 million, respectively.
These behaviors are inexcusable, and if any other person had made the same comments, they would have had to deal with the consequences. People idealize West for his rap career, avant-garde clothing line, past marriage to Kim Kardashian, and consistently controversial viewpoints. All of these incidents are considered to be part of his brand, with not enough people seeing a problem with his actions.
West’s idea that Black people cannot be antisemitic comes from the concept that Jewish people stole the religious heritage of Black people and now try to oppress everyone else.
After his controversies and antisemitic statements, West deflected the blame and showed no regret for what he had said. According to CNN, West said that if any hate happened to a Jewish person, it could not be traced back to him because he demands that “everyone walk in love.”
A group of protesters stood above a Los Angeles freeway with signs that said “Kanye is right about the Jews,” and held up Nazi salutes, according to CNN. LA officials condemned the protesters, but their actions prove that the rapper’s problematic Tweets and comments are actively opening channels for antisemitism in the country.
West consistently perpetuates stereotypical ideas of Jewish people in positions of power. These tropes involve Jewish greed, exploitation, financial gain, and control. West uses his platform to affirm these claims as norms, reinforcing harmful hate speech and ultimately creating a false perception of Jewish people. An ADL audit found 2021 saw 2,717 incidents of antisemitism, which increased by 34% since 2020.
Acts of antisemitism aren’t coming from a particular group of people, regardless of whether they take the form of microaggressions or blatant hate. One of the only ways to hold people accountable is for the media and other watchdogs to treat antisemitism with the seriousness it deserves.
Kanye West’s music and brand should not be supported. It is impossible to separate West’s art from his character and behaviors. His music is not ‘life-saving’, nor is his brand enough of a reason to justify his actions. Listening to West’s music and buying his brand inherently supports his antisemitic messages. When this is normalized, his message spreads, leading to more violence, microaggressions, and acts of hate.
As a minority, Jewish people’s voices should be supported and uplifted. Boycotting Kanye West and removing his platform de-escalates his popularity, creating fewer opportunities for his Tweets and brash actions to spread to the public.
It’s up to the public to determine West’s fate, and anyone who continues to support him after years of controversy also supports his hate speech and instigation of violence. So, stop listening to Kanye West, stop wearing his clothing and sneakers, and stop making excuses for everyday instances of antisemitism.
